Jimmy Neutron’s dad has a bone to pick with you, and he won’t stop until he beats you up. Hugh Neutron is the stumbling father of the boy genius and is now rolling into Nickelodeon All-Star brawl , with two new faces, Jenny (My Life as a Teenage Robot ) and Rocko (HT4_ Rocko’s Modern Life .).
Publisher GameMill Entertainment revealed the characters of DLC in a trailer released Friday. The developers will release a new one each season: Jenny is available now, Hugh will arrive this summer, and Rocko will debut in the fall.
The trailer shows off Jenny’s robotic powers that she used to fight off aliens in My Life as a Teenage Robot. And while we love Jenny, Jimmy’s dad steals the show. Hugh, a grumbling hog on his back, makes a memorable appearance. It just sort of exudes a sort of dad trying too hard to be cool. This may be why Judy Neutron has become so attached to him!
Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl is a Super Smash Bros.-esque fighting game starring Nickelodeon franchise characters like SpongeBob SquarePants, Garfield, and April O’Neil from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Although Polygon was not impressed with the game’s performance, it does contain a couple of meme references.
Bloomberg backs report that iPhone 15 may switch to USB-C charging port next year
Supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo shared two days ago that evidence points to Apple replacing its own Lightning charging port with the universal USB-C connection. Today a second report from a reliable source, this time Bloomberg, adds that Apple is internally testing an iPhone design with USB-C.
USB-C iPhone in testing, new report corroborates
Apple introduced its Lightning connector with the iPhone 5 in 2012, replacing the more cumbersome 30-pin dock connector with a smaller and reversible plug. A decade later, Apple is still expected to rely on Lightning for the iPhone 14 lineup later this fall.
However, Apple has moved most of the iPad lineup from Lightning to USB-C, and MacBook computers have used USB-C charging for over five years. Apple uses USB-C in all its chargers, including new iPhones.
Matching what Ming-Chi Kuo predicted earlier this week, Bloomberg reports that while Apple is internally testing an iPhone design with USB-C in favor of Lightning, the change won’t come before next year. That puts the change on the so-called iPhone 15 lineup that would likely arrive in September 2023.
The report cites pressure from regulators in Europe that could force Apple to adopt a standard used by other smartphone makers as one reason for investigating the switch.
Another factor could be
Data data transfer speed. The company could reduce engineering effort to improve USB-C transfer speeds. This would help keep Lightning’s performance competitive. Apple is rumored to boost Lightning data transfer rates to USB 3.0 starting with the iPhone 14 Pro this fall, but iPads using USB-C already appreciate the benefits of quicker transfer rates.
Bloomberg also mentions that Apple is developing a Lightning to USB-C adapter to keep compatibility between connection types.
Magic: The Gathering’s first Warhammer 40,000 cards revealed
Wizards of the Coast has finally unveiled the first Warhammer 40,000-themed cards for Magic: The Gathering. Announced in February 2021, the Universes Beyond product line will include four standard Commander decks and four collector’s edition Commander decks, which are all scheduled to be released on Aug. 12. In addition, the collaboration with Games Workshop will also feature three Secret Lair drops. A few preview cards were also announced on Thursday via Twitch.
These new Commander decks will contain a combination of new cards and reprints of classic cards featuring new 40K-themed art. The decks contain Necrondynasties black (and Forces of the Imperium green, blue and red), Tyranid Swarm and TheRuinous Powers red (blue and black). The only Legendary Creature revealed was Abaddon the Despoiler, a 5/5 monster with trample. That card includes the new Mark of Chaos Ascendant ability, which adds cascade to cards based on the amount of life that your opponents have lost this turn. That should allow plenty of additional spells to get triggered as a result.
Image: Wizards of the Coast
The concept of collector’s edition Commander decks is a first for Wizards. Presenters said Thursday that the decks will be “fully foiled” and will include a new “surge foil” treatment on certain cards. Photos and videos of the never-before-seen treatment are on the way.
Image: Wizards of the Coast
Image: Wizards of the Coast
Image: Wizards of the Coast
Squad was another new ability that was mentioned in the presentation. Squad is a new ability that allows you to summon a number of Ultramarine creatures for two extra mana.
The 40-minute presentation also includes details on Double Masters 2022 (coming July 8) and Dominaria United (coming Sept. 9). For more details, you can find the entire archive on Twitch.
The weekly Exotic item merchant, Xur, hangs out in random locations around the world of Destiny. In Destiny 2, he can appear all over the map, as well as inside the Tower. This week, you can find Xur in the EDZ, standing on a bluff overlooking the Winding Cove.
Image: Bungie via Polygon
Xur’s inventory this week consists of the following:
Cerberus+1, Solar scout rifle: 29 Legendary Shards
As of Season of the Lost, Xur also sells a collection of old armor and weapons — similar to Banshee-44 and Ada-1. These items can be difficult to find, and are often from years past. Each item (whether armor or weapon) costs only 1,000 Glimmer and 50 Legendary Shards.
Xur’s Legendary inventory this week consists of the following:
Bite of the Fox, Kinetic sniper rifle
The Last Dance, Arc sidearm
Shattered Cipher, Void machine gun
Sojourner’s Tale, Solar shotgun
Gridskipper, Void pulse rifle
Farewell, Kinetic sidearm
Sorrow’s Verse, Arc auto rifle
Kairos Function armor set
Xur’s items drop at a power level similar to that of your character.
Cerberus+1
Cerberus+1 is a strange Exotic added in Forsaken. It’s an auto rifle that fires four shots at once, and behaves more like an automatic shotgun with more range and less damage. Its main Exotic perk is Four-Headed Dog, which causes it to fire one bullet from each of the gun’s four barrels simultaneously. Spread Shot Package makes the gun far more accurate when you aim down your sights.
The gun also has a Catalyst, found randomly by killing enemies in the world, that adds the ability to hold the reload button for an even tighter spread made for close-range combat.
Cerberus+1 is one of Destiny 2‘s wackiest weapons. It’s very fun to use if you can get accustomed to its generally inaccurate nature. It’s not what we would call “good”, but it’s certainly worth getting.
Graviton Forfeit
Graviton Forfeit is a Hunter helmet from Curse of Osiris. While it looks like a returning Exotic from Destiny, its Exotic perk, Vanishing Shadow, is completely different in Destiny 2. This perk increases the length of your invisibility skills, and causes your melee ability to recharge quickly while you’re invisible.
Graviton Forfeit is actually very powerful with the new “Way of the Wraith” tree, and will keep you invisible for a very long time. This helmet is for you if you enjoy being stealthy.
Xur’s roll this week comes with 63 total stats.
Synthoceps
After a big change, Synthoceps will now buff melee damage and super damage by a flat amount for a full eight seconds after being surrounded by three or more enemies. It is a potentially powerful Exotic.
The Biotic Enhancements intrinsic perk offers “increased melee lunge range” as well as “improved melee and Super damage when surrounded.” These are one of the most powerful Titan Exotics in the game, and always benefit you for wearing them. These are a must-have for any player who doesn’t already own them.
Xur’s roll this week comes with 63 total stats.
Nezarec’s Sin
Nezarec’s Sin isn’t a particularly exciting Warlock helmet, but it’s very good. The main perk is Abyssal Extractors, which causes Void damage kills to recharge your ability energy — boring but effective. This includes Void damage from your subclass and from your energy or power weapons. This helmet is perfect for Voidwalkers and Void weapons.
Xur’s roll this week comes with 60 total stats.
Exotic Cipher quest
Image: Bungie via Polygon
Starting in Beyond Light, Xur has a new quest for an Exotic Cipher. The Exotic Cipher lets you buy old Exotics from the Monuments to Lost Light kiosk in the tower. You’ll need these items and some other currencies to pick up Exotics like Heir Apparent and Truth.
This week, Xur wants you to complete 21 Strikes or win Crucible or Gambit matches. By finishing the quest, you’ll earn an Exotic Cipher to use however you want.
No Man’s Sky’s Outlaws update is a solid Han Solo fantasy
If you’re a placid, peaceful player, it may be easy to pass on Outlaws, the new No Man’s Sky update targeted toward the rogues and rascals of the galaxy. Hello Games will allow you to continue exploring the planets and building bases, or searching for lore fragments. But Outlaws enables a whole new style of play, which turns the player’s Traveller into an under-the-radar smuggler who can pick up dangerous missions and carry illegal supplies across monitored borders in the galaxy.
This is a pretty archetypal sci-fi fantasy, and there are times where it works very well in No Man’s Sky. There’s a lot of joy in plotting out a supply run, ping-ponging between stations, submitting fraudulent passports to hide my footwork, and stopping Sentinel scans from detecting the high-value goods I have packed in the back of my little ship. Even if everything goes well, or if it’s just me, I never get in any kind of trouble. I might have to give up my cargo or pay a bribe if I am less fortunate.
Space combat is smoother in Outlaws; the ability to lock on to my opponents means that I no longer spin in circles in space, chasing an enemy that is always just on the edge of my peripheral version. The Squadrons feature allows me to summon a couple of brothers to my side. Plus, I have the option to spend even more money on my Squadron. If the authorities pursue me, I will fight them back. It’s not easy, as the Sentinels are a relentless and numerous foe — but it can save millions of units on cargo.
Image: Hello Games via Polygon
If there’s one complaint I have about Outlaws, it’s that the expansion just doesn’t feel pirate-y enough. The idea of expanding pirates brings out a wild abandonment and sense of adventure. Pirates are unchained, pursuing freedom and treasure above following the petty laws of society. But No Man’s Sky is a quieter kind of game; I feel more like I’m doing paperwork at the space DMV than flipping off the space feds as I do a warp jump out of there with my ship full of illicit goods.
In a strange way, I don’t really mind that the pirate fantasy of Outlaws is incomplete. This is partially because I love smuggling, and partially because this is Hello Games. By constantly updating the game, and adding new layers and complexity to it, the developer earned their trust. Even if you don’t travel to these villainous crime systems, Outlaws complements the dozens of other tiny updates that have brought No Man’s Sky in space. These planetary dogfights are very different from the battles that take place in space. While I am traveling across planets’ surface, I observe freighters entering the system. I travel with a little Sentinel by my side, and protect my Settlement from waves of hostile, newly adapted Sentinel attackers.
I have no doubt Outlaws represents a new way to play role-play in No Man’s Sky ;. It’s still fun, and it’s also functional. I just want a little more yar har and rum in my pirate fantasy. And as always, I’m willing to wait to see how Hello Games iterates on what it’s already built.
Elden Ring boss size-comparison video shows size doesn’t really matter
Elden Ring ‘s bosses can be as creative as they are frightening. But how do they stack up against one another in scale? Modder and Garden of Eyes YouTuber made a video in which Eldenring ‘ showed the terrifying, numerous bosses. The two are neatly lined up beside each other, in an environment that is meant to be fought — Rennala’s second phase, Queen of Full Moon’s boss fight.
You might be familiar with Garden of Eyes from their other YouTube series, in which bosses fight one another. Although this video isn’t as dynamic, it is just as entertaining for the similar reasons. Elden Ring bosses are striking, and it’s fun to compare them.
To demonstrate scale, the character of the player slowly walks alongside the bosses. Although each of them has given me my ass on multiple occasions, it’s quite jarring to be able to view all three in close proximity. They each seemed larger than life when fighting in-game. This was especially true for older bosses such as Margit, The Fell Omen. He is a large, unwelcomed fellow, much smaller than the knights, wolves and wandering nobles that I had fought. But Margit manages to look much less intimidating by comparison to others in the lineup.
This video also puts into perspective just how deadly some of Elden Ring‘s relatively smaller bosses are, with Malenia, Blade of Miquella near the beginning of the line, despite being one of the most stalwart foes. It was also sobering seeing the immense power of Elder Dragon Greyoll, the huge scarlet-rot-afflicted creature that I had slain in Caelid to get some runes. (I do feel a little guilty now, but not guilty enough that I wouldn’t do it again in a new game plus. )
Elden Ring sales beat Call of Duty in the US, says NPD
Here’s something we didn’t expect to write: Elden Ringis the United States’ best selling video game of the past 12 months, according to the NPD Group, beating out a Call of Duty franchise that typically dominates the calendar year after year. Remember that Elden Ring was launched on February. 25.
Mat Piscatella, the NPD group’s top analyst for the video games market, revealed the numbers in a Twitter thread Friday morning that covered several other trends NPD measured for April.
On Tuesday, Elden Ring‘s publisher Bandai Namco Entertainment said the game told investors that the game had sold 13. 4 million units worldwide, adding another 1. 4 million copies to the 12 million it boasted by mid-March. The game’s meteoric launch led developer FromSoftware to tout it, in March, as the beginning of a new franchise that will expand to other media. Elden Ring is a collaboration of director Hidetaka Miyazaki (the director behind the Souls games, as well as Bloodborneand Sekiro) and George R.R. Martin is the creator of Song of Ice and Fire, a fantasy series. It was later adapted by HBO to the Game of Thrones series.
Although Call of Duty: Vanguard was 2021’s top selling video game (after launching Nov. 5), Activision’s most recent quarterly earnings report blamed the shooter’s lukewarm commercial reception, in part, for overall earnings that came in about $300 million short of the company’s forecasts. Activision said Vanguard‘s lower sales came “primarily due to our own execution,” but did opine that “the game’s World War II setting didn’t resonate with some of our community, and didn’t deliver as much innovation in the premium game as we would have liked.”
The franchise will likely rebound this November, as Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, a reboot sequel in the series’ most popular sub-genre, was announced two weeks ago. It’s a sequel to 2019’s Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, which Activision says is the most successful Call of Duty title to date. The series should also get a shot in the arm with a sequel to its free-to-play battle royale Call of Duty: Warzone, which is also expected launch in late 2022.
Samsung Superstar Galaxy on Roblox Featuring Pop Icon Charli XCX Now Available for a Limited Time – Samsung Global Newsroom
Calling all interstellar pop fans! Samsung Superstar Galaxy on Roblox, an exciting experience featuring pop star, singer and songwriter Charli XCX, is now live. For a limited time only, users can live their popstar dreams by performing, dancing and creating in Superstar Galaxy. This all leads to the virtual concert finale on June 17, where the top users will take the stage and share the spotlight with Charli XCX. Fans can also watch replays of the performance all weekend long.
Superstar Galaxy drops you into a futuristic space station equipped with your very own virtual Galaxy Z Flip3 smartphone. You’re then guided by virtual Z Filp3 devices throughout Superstar Galaxy with messages from Charli XCX to complete challenges, explore the galaxy and get tips on navigating the experience. You can even use Z Flip3 to snap a quick in-game selfie of your avatar and share with your friends.
From the space station, discover nearby asteroids and play unique mini games, build and perform on your own custom stage, or visit stages created by other users. Users will have to solve challenges around Superstar Galaxy to earn Star Power, climb to the top of the game leaderboards and join Charli XCX at the concert finale.
Every Friday, new content is released. This includes fan-favorite Charli XCX tracks to perform, in-game zones, and props that you can use to decorate your stage. To personalize your avatar, you can unlock pop-icon items that will allow you to create your pop superstar persona.
“Roblox and Samsung feel like the perfect duo to extend the interaction I have with my fans,” said Charli XCX. “The partnership is one that will give my community the access and ability to experience me in ways they previously have not been able to, which is extremely exciting!”
“We’re always looking for opportunities to bring consumers new ways to interact with our Galaxy devices,” said Janet Lee, Senior Vice President of Mobile eXperience at Samsung Electronics America. “As more than an online game, we’re offering fans a social experience that brings together creativity, music and entertainment in a way that’s unique for Samsung and Roblox.”
This is the most recent example of Samsung’s approach to creating innovative experiences in the metaverse. Samsung 837X, which launched in January and is modeled after the Samsung Flagship store in New York City, is an online experiential playground and creative hub for users to explore incredible experiences made possible through Samsung technology.
Samsung Superstar Galaxy is accessible in the United States, Brazil, Canada, Germany, United Kingdom and other select countries worldwide. To learn more visit samsung.com/superstargalaxy.
Genshin Impact makers announce Zenless Zone Zero, a new ARPG roguelike
Hoyoverse, the company behind Genshin Impact and the Honkai series, has a new action RPG on the way. The game is called Zenless Zone Zero, and it’s an urban-setting fantasy with plenty of colorful characters. Hoyoverse announced the game on Friday with its first trailer. Zenless Zone Zero doesn’t have a release date yet, but Hoyoverse is letting players sign up for the closed beta on the game’s website.
According to Hoyoverse’s announcement, Zenless Zone Zero is set in a metropolitan city after some kind of apocalyptic disaster that involves something called Hollows. Hollows are portals to another dimension that appear out of nowhere and can let monstrous creatures, known as the Ethereal, into our world. While the Ethereal have destroyed most of human civilization, people in New Eridu have managed to stay alive by extracting resources and technology from the monsters’ domain to use for themselves.
Image: Hoyoverse
Players take on the role of a Proxy, which is a guide who helps other people explore Hollows. As a Proxy, they’ll take many different characters on their adventures through Hollows, all while fighting off Ethereal and combining the abilities of the other characters in the party for bigger combos and more damage.
Hoyoverse also says that the game will feature roguelike elements, which likely means that each trip into the Hollows will be a little different. Hoyoverse hasn’t announced all of the platforms for the game just yet; the closed beta test is only on iOS devices and PC.
Kuo: Cheaper Apple TV coming later this year to ‘close the gap with competitors’
Reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has a bold prediction for the future of the Apple TV. Kuo claims that Apple will release a lower-priced Apple TV in the second half this year, according to a report. The focus of this new model will be on improving the “cost structure” of the Apple TV.
Has Cheap Apple TV On the Way
As it stands today, the Apple TV 4K starts at $179 for 32GB of storage with a 64GB model is also available for $199. Apple also still sells the previous-generation Apple TV HD for a whopping $149 with 32GB of storage.
Kuo explained that an Apple TV with a higher cost structure will be available in the second half.
Apple will launch a new version of Apple TV that improves cost structure in 2H22. I think that Apple’s aggressive strategy of integrating hardware, content, and service amid the recession will help close the gap with its competitors.
Kuo’s post is relatively vague, so we don’t know much more about what we can expect from a more affordable version of the Apple TV. It should be much more affordable than products like Roku or Amazon.
9to5Mac’s Take
Apple last updated the Apple TV 4K in April of 2021, keeping the price the same but adding a new Siri Remote and an upgraded A12 Bionic. Although it’s more powerful than other streaming accessories, the Apple TV is still more costly than comparable products.
Apple has always claimed that the Apple TV’s more powerful chips make it a better gaming device, especially with Apple Arcade. The Apple TV is not a popular gaming device despite Apple’s best efforts.
One possibility is that Apple launches a cheaper variant of the Apple TV that exists alongside the Apple TV 4K. As Apple pushes to get Apple TV+ into as many homes as possible, a cheaper version of the Apple TV focused purely on streaming services represents an important part of the strategy.
On the flip side of the pricing structure, Bloomberg has also reported that Apple is developing a version of the Apple TV with an integrated HomePod speaker and camera for FaceTime. This would certainly be more expensive than even the current Apple TV 4K.
What do you expect to get from an Apple TV that is more economical? How much would you be willing to pay? Let us know down in the comments.
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23463145/abaddon.JPG)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23463146/suppressor.JPG)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23463148/fabricate.JPG)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23463147/blood.JPG)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9787955/Xur_EDZ.png)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22036052/Destiny_2_Screenshot_2020.11.13___11.27.00.57.png)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23456505/20210303170826_1.jpg)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23462930/Key_Art_EN.png)
